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Engraved Invitation? Likely Not Update 10:19 am |
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10:19 am: Newsday's Art Staple is at IceWorks for the 'Captain's Skate' reporting that on the ice are the following players: Nielsen, Nelson, Clutterbuck, Martin, Boulton, J. Persson, L. Sutter, Carkner, Hickey, Brennan and Pedan. There may be more, but he ran out of characters on Twitter. Then again, I guess you can't call it a Captain's skate without -- The captain!
I knew Art ran out of space on Twitter. He is reporting that veteran NHLer without a contract, Radek Martinek is also on the ice staying in shape. Any ex-NYIer gets to skate at IceWorks for life. Martinek is always a good insurance policy. I just don't know if the Isles need one.
7 am: As we head into September and inch ever closer to the 'official' beginning of NHL camp openings, some unsigned free agents have received invitations to NHL camps for a try-out. The most noteable of them would be Scott Gomez being invited by the New Jersey Devils.
That made me wonder how many free-agents there actually were left available and whether or not the Islanders may invite someone to join them as well. However, looking over the list of available players, it's chock-full of players who just haven't announced their retirement yet or ones that didn't see much ice time.
Sure there are a few whose lack of contract is a little surprising, but for the most part, the list is unimpressive. So, with the Islanders being criticized for their lack of quality defense, do they look to invite a defenseman to camp or just go with the developing young players?
My first reaction would be that no one on that long list of free agents is getting a call from Garth Snow. But he certainly has surprised us before. But having increased the goal potential and iimproved the net position, maybe the defense will not be as big of an issue as currently thought.
Some youngsters may have break-out seasons while the back-bone of the Isles D, Travis Hamonic, may also improve as he heads into his fifth NHL season. A year behind him at age 23 is Calvin deHaan, whom we seemed to have waited for forever. Perhaps Carkner won't be a traffic cone this season as well.
If there are engraved invitations on Garth Snow's desk, they are few without stamps on them yet. Capuano and company will have a hard enough time evaluating all the players currently in the Isles system at camp without having to throw in a few more.
Sideboard: Evgeni Nabokov is now a 'Bolt' and was on XM radio yesterday. Such a charmer. He knows his role is back-up and is just happy to be working and will be ready when he gets the call. Along with the goalie change for Tampa comes the renaming of the arena. No long the St. Pete Times Formum, it is now the Amalie Arena, named for a local oil company. I think that's harder to say.
And then there is this. I just love it! PUCK YEAH!
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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